Japan reported that 2024 was the hottest year on record, with temperatures averaging 1.48 degrees Celsius above normal. This increase reflects long-term climate change trends, with associated extreme weather events resulting in floods and landslides. Japan’s dependence on fossil fuels for energy production complicates the nation’s goals to reduce emissions and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
On January 6, Japan’s Meteorological Agency announced that 2024 has become the hottest year on record since data collection began in 1898. The average temperature in Japan throughout the year was 1.48 degrees Celsius above the 1991-2020 average, surpassing the previous year’s record by 0.19 degrees Celsius. This alarming trend is consistent with a global increase in temperatures, attributed largely to escalating greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. Notably, the current data reflects a long-term temperature increase in Japan of approximately 1.40 degrees Celsius per century, particularly evident since the 1990s.
Additionally, Japan experienced an exceptionally warm summer in 2024, which matched the record set in 2023, and autumn temperatures reached unprecedented levels. The longest absence of snow from Mount Fuji was recorded, with the snowcap not appearing until early November. Furthermore, climate scientists have pointed out the link between a warming climate and the rising frequency of extreme weather events, such as heavy rainfall and subsequent flooding, which affected various regions in Japan in 2024, resulting in loss of life and necessitating mass evacuations.
Japan also faces significant challenges related to its energy production, as the country maintains the highest reliance on fossil fuels among the G7 nations. As Japan strives towards carbon neutrality by 2050, with an interim goal to cut emissions by 46 percent by 2030 from 2013 levels, the agency indicated that renewable energy investments will be essential to meet these targets.
The report from the Japan Meteorological Agency highlights the acute effects of climate change within Japan and globally. Rising temperatures, illustrated by the record-setting heat in 2024, emphasize the urgency of addressing greenhouse gas emissions. The observed global trends in temperature increases align with scientific predictions regarding the impact of human activities on climate stability. Understanding the implications of these changes is pivotal as countries, including Japan, aim to transition towards more sustainable energy practices to combat these environmental challenges.
In summary, Japan’s announcement of 2024 as the hottest year on record underscores the pressing reality of climate change driven by greenhouse gas emissions. The impacts of rising temperatures are evident in both the extreme weather phenomena and the noticeable shifts in seasonal patterns, such as delayed snowfall on Mount Fuji. The nation faces the dual challenge of addressing its energy reliance on fossil fuels while striving toward significant emission reductions to mitigate future climate risks.
Original Source: www.straitstimes.com
